About two months ago, rumors emerged regarding the potential sale of Dorna Sports for a value around 2 billion euros. It has been the promoter of MotoGP and the World Superbike Championship for many years.
According to El Confidencial, the sale was on the table from the Bridgepoint fund, holding 39 percent of the company. There’s another 38 percent from a Canadian public fund and 20 percent owned by the employees. And Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna, recently confirmed to La Repubblica that the deal might actually become a reality: ‘Last year we made many changes, but sports continue to be at the center of the show. I confirm the rumors: there are negotiations for the sale’.
However, the Spaniard assured that Dorna is ready for any scenario – whether a change of ownership or carry on with the same shareholders. Since 2006, Bridgepoint has been a shareholder of Dorna, while the previous investors remained from 1998 to 2006. Ezpeleta recalled that this is an unusual longevity: ‘Usually, companies owned by venture capital, which is our case, do not stay for more than four or five years. But every rule has its exception’.